1963 Miami-Bimini Race Corrected

[bigshrimpin]

Labii has come through again!!

Recently Labii contacted one of the most knowledgeable fiberglass boat historians regarding the v20. This "unnamed" source (will reveal his name in the near future) has just sent me 5 lbs of wellcraft/alim historical docs. I'm going to be scanning for the next week, but I'm truely excited to share this stuff with everyone.

Couple of interesting facts about the steplift hull:

1. The 30ft version of the steplift hull (alim v30) won 1st place in the 1963 Miami-Bimini Race (corrected). The alim V20 with 310hp won 1st in class Miami-Bimini Race Competing against Bertram, Thundbird, etc.

2. In addition to being in production with wellcraft for 27 years the v20 hull was in production with Glasspar since 1964 . . . and with alim before that . . . 33+ years >> Our source believes that the v20 steplift hull had the longest production run of any fiberglass powerboat hull.

I'll be posting stuff everyday this week . . . so stay tuned!!!

[reelapeelin]

So we got a RACING heritage... 8)

That V30 sounds interesting...we gonna get to see any pics...? :)

[chumbucket]

Tease................ ;D

[chesapeake724]

That's cool. Can't wait to see that stuff.

So if you scale everything, it's got, what, a 12' beam? Doesn't sound like a speed demon, but then again, we are talking 1960's.

[fillet1]

BS - I cant wait to see what you have discovered.

I have researched a little about the 1964 Miami -Bimini race. *This is a diffrent race then the Miami-Nassau races of bertram fame? *

Was the Miami - Bimini race the "Sam Griffith Memorial" race?

If so - I found some contradictory info on that race:

First - From http://www.njppc.com/OldOffshoreStor...ofoffshore.htm

"A fourth, the Sam Griffith Memorial added in the winter of 1964, was first won by American Jim Wynne, then fittingly by Bertram. The Sam Griffith Trophy provided the voltage the sport needed to really catch fire. By 1977 there were 35 races being staged worldwide, most of them point contests for the trophy."

So that says that *Jim Wynne won that race in 1964. *But, I found this on *the same website:

"First of these 145-mile Sam Griffith Memorial Ocean Powerboat races was run in February, 1964. So rough was the water that only three of the 15 starters completed the course. The winner was Dick Bertram in Lucky Moppie. The following year saw half of the 22 starters make the finish line. Victory and the current~ record went to Bill Wishnick’s Broad Jumper with an average speed of 44 m.p.h. "

http://www.njppc.com/OldOffshoreStor...gazine1966.htm

So that says that Bertram won the race. *Next, I found this:

"The best jumping story of mine is from the 1964 Sam Griffith Memorial race, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Bimini-Miami. It was rougher than a *****. In those days, we didn't have the "small-craft rule". If it was too rough for you, don't go. A customer of mine called and said that he was in a hotel in Miami Beach and heard a lot of noise from the ocean. He said that he glanced out the window, and saw John Raulerson's 30' diesel Alim v30 go right past his window. I said "What is so strange about that?" He said I am on the seventh floor."

http://www.donzi.net/forums/printthread.php?t=24118

So this seems to say that a V30 was in the race that the other site says was won by Wynne and Bertram. *I dont know if any of this helps you at all.

Do you have a pic of an Alim boat?

[bigshrimpin]

I'm pretty sure that the Miami - Nassau Race evolved into the Sam Griffith Memorial in 1964. I'm assuming that the Miami - Bimini race is a totally seperate race from the Miami - Bimini - Ft. Lauderdale (Sam Griffith). I'll post some pics when I get home. It's a full page Alim AD in the June? 1964 Motor Boating magazine.

Sorry Guys - I got the dates wrong 1963 Miami - Bimini and Back!!

[bigshrimpin]

Just image your v20 with 310hp!!! That would be friggin scary.

[CT_V-20]

All right, I thought I goofed around too much at work. You guys rock and thanks for the info. I have to say, this is one GREAT page and it is truly playing a huge role in keeping me in my V-20.

mmmmm 30 feet of V-Step luxury :-*